Murder the Dawn: Chapter Thirty Two: Revelations.
In which Obi-Wan has nightmares, as well as getting his first assignment to spy on Palpatine. It doesn't go well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: Hope this chapter doesn't come off as too rushed, really.
The visions refused to end. And this, somehow, was one of the worst of them. In the vision, he saw Anakin being cut down by the blades of Grievous, saw Satine, dying and in pain, saw the Jedi Temple being set ablaze. In the vision, he saw beings attacking from the Unknown Regions, beings that could not be felt in the Force. And worst of all, he saw those eyes, those yellow, almost krayt dragon-like eyes, staring out at him, beckoning to him...
Obi-Wan was almost relieved to have woken up where he wanted to -- in Satine’s apartment, their apartment, where at the very least he was somewhat safe. No, that was an illusion. He wasn’t safe, they weren’t safe. Not as long as these visions were plaguing him, threatening doom for them and their unborn children. Even the thought...even the thought was too much to bear. He could not help but express some degree of chagrin, somehow, that he had ended up on Satine’s couch -- the great Negotiator, falling asleep like that -- and yet at the same time...
Satine entered now, quite clearly exhausted, but giving him a quick smile when she came to meet him. After exchanging embraces and quick kisses, Obi-Wan spoke. “Are you all right?”
“I am. Quite a long meeting.” Satine gave him a wan smile; even now, she didn’t look well. “And you?”
“Quite all right. Slightly low on sleep.”
Satine furrowed her brow. “Is it about the dreams, I wonder?”
“Well...yes. When I dream, I see those eyes. The best way to describe them...they’re like krayt dragon eyes. All-knowing, overseeing everything. And...” Obi-Wan broke off, almost unable to describe the worst of the dreams involving those eyes. Eyes that appeared in those he loved dearly, such as Anakin and Mace -- Mace especially, standing over someone he could only presume was Darth Sidious, angry, triumphant yet angry, and those eyes appeared. And Mace spoke one word, almost not in his voice, but in the voice of the Dark Side itself.
“Mine.”
Even picturing it, Obi-Wan rubbed his brow, wearily. “I merely worry for the Jedi Order. Do you remember what you said a long while ago, about how the Jedi shouldn’t have let themselves be dragged into the war in such a way?”
She merely nodded.
“I’m worried that they will...fall.”
“The sooner the Clone Wars end, the better,” Satine said, softly, running a hand over his face. “They’ve already taken too many good men and women, in mind and body. I doubt we can lose any more.”
“Satine, I have been wondering...what led you to become a pacifist in the first place? Not condemning you -- ’’
“I know that,” Satine said, smiling if slightly. Then she grew more serious. “It was studying Mandalore’s history that I decided to take it up. Seeing the truth of our actions in the past, causing wars in the name of glory -- I saw it and I essentially said no more.”
“I can imagine all too well. I can’t imagine anyone being pro-war.”
“No one is,” Satine said, “For their part.” Another smile, if faint, crossed her lips. “And you should get some sleep.”
Even now, sleeping soundly beside her, beside Satine, Obi-Wan felt an almost absurd sense of peace cross him. At least for now.
***
It was later that Obi-Wan was woken from sleep by the ringing of his comlink. Getting up quickly, Obi-Wan stumbled to pick up his comlink. “Yes, Master Windu?”
“Knight Skywalker has just engaged General Grievous. Go to the Chancellor, gauge his reactions. There’s no time to waste.”
“I understand, Master Windu.”
Even now, saying a reluctant goodbye (for now) to Satine, Obi-Wan was thankful that he didn’t have to change too quickly. If anything, he had all but fallen asleep in his Jedi robes, much to his embarrassment. He smoothed them quickly before getting on the shuttle to Palpatine’s office, before telling the Chancellor about what he had heard.
He had half-expected the Chancellor to express some measure of concern for Palpatine’s well-being, but even so, the Chancellor didn’t seem to express much. If anything, Palpatine had expressed some momentary concern for Anakin’s safety, before continuing to engage him in what some would call small talk -- talk about the Republic, about his discontent with it, about...Satine?
“How did you know?”
“I have my ways. I was wondering, Obi-Wan,” Palpatine said, in such a casual tone, almost as if he was discussing the weather, “if perhaps -- perhaps you would find alternative ways to reform the Republic. Ways much like those my...apprentice suggested.”
“Apprentice?”
“Yes.” Even now, the Chancellor’s smile seemed to take on an edge far more sinister, even evil. “Think of it, Obi-Wan. Simply think of it.”
The Force was practically shrieking warnings.
“No.” Even now, Obi-Wan felt, almost, as if he was falling steadily through space. As if the galaxy as he knew it was dying all around him. “You -- a Sith Lord -- but why?”
“The Republic was corrupt. It needed to change.” A beat. “Aren’t you tired of the Republic’s corruption -- the squabbling, greedy Senators who seem to have no regard for the people, only their own desires? Think, Obi-Wan. Come back when you have a solid answer. I will be waiting.”
That did it.
Obi-Wan didn’t wait for Palpatine -- no, Sidious’ -- next response. He ran. And ran forever. Until, finally, he found his way back to Mace Windu. The Jedi Master was already looking over a hologram of Anakin -- there was a moment of relief in Obi-Wan to know that his former Padawan was all right, and yet at the same time --
“Master Windu,” Anakin said, “I just managed to destroy General Grievous. I’m heading back to Coruscant as soon as I can.” A wry smile. “Although I think Cody has some damage control to do regarding the droids, but I will be back soon.”
“Good. May the Force be with you, young Skywalker.”
A bit of a hint of shock on Anakin’s face, almost as if the younger Jedi couldn’t believe that Master Windu, of all people, was paying him a compliment -- of sorts. Then, “And with you, Master Windu. Skywalker out.”
Mace then turned to look at Obi-Wan. “What is it?”
“It’s Chancellor Palpatine. I did the investigations -- Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord.”
“A Sith Lord? The Sith Lord?”
“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, softly, “The very one that we’ve been looking for.”
For a moment, he could have sworn that he saw a flash of vulnerability in Mace Windu’s eyes. And then, “Then we have no time to waste.”
And even now, Obi-Wan Kenobi could not disagree.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: Hope this chapter doesn't come off as too rushed, really.
The visions refused to end. And this, somehow, was one of the worst of them. In the vision, he saw Anakin being cut down by the blades of Grievous, saw Satine, dying and in pain, saw the Jedi Temple being set ablaze. In the vision, he saw beings attacking from the Unknown Regions, beings that could not be felt in the Force. And worst of all, he saw those eyes, those yellow, almost krayt dragon-like eyes, staring out at him, beckoning to him...
Obi-Wan was almost relieved to have woken up where he wanted to -- in Satine’s apartment, their apartment, where at the very least he was somewhat safe. No, that was an illusion. He wasn’t safe, they weren’t safe. Not as long as these visions were plaguing him, threatening doom for them and their unborn children. Even the thought...even the thought was too much to bear. He could not help but express some degree of chagrin, somehow, that he had ended up on Satine’s couch -- the great Negotiator, falling asleep like that -- and yet at the same time...
Satine entered now, quite clearly exhausted, but giving him a quick smile when she came to meet him. After exchanging embraces and quick kisses, Obi-Wan spoke. “Are you all right?”
“I am. Quite a long meeting.” Satine gave him a wan smile; even now, she didn’t look well. “And you?”
“Quite all right. Slightly low on sleep.”
Satine furrowed her brow. “Is it about the dreams, I wonder?”
“Well...yes. When I dream, I see those eyes. The best way to describe them...they’re like krayt dragon eyes. All-knowing, overseeing everything. And...” Obi-Wan broke off, almost unable to describe the worst of the dreams involving those eyes. Eyes that appeared in those he loved dearly, such as Anakin and Mace -- Mace especially, standing over someone he could only presume was Darth Sidious, angry, triumphant yet angry, and those eyes appeared. And Mace spoke one word, almost not in his voice, but in the voice of the Dark Side itself.
“Mine.”
Even picturing it, Obi-Wan rubbed his brow, wearily. “I merely worry for the Jedi Order. Do you remember what you said a long while ago, about how the Jedi shouldn’t have let themselves be dragged into the war in such a way?”
She merely nodded.
“I’m worried that they will...fall.”
“The sooner the Clone Wars end, the better,” Satine said, softly, running a hand over his face. “They’ve already taken too many good men and women, in mind and body. I doubt we can lose any more.”
“Satine, I have been wondering...what led you to become a pacifist in the first place? Not condemning you -- ’’
“I know that,” Satine said, smiling if slightly. Then she grew more serious. “It was studying Mandalore’s history that I decided to take it up. Seeing the truth of our actions in the past, causing wars in the name of glory -- I saw it and I essentially said no more.”
“I can imagine all too well. I can’t imagine anyone being pro-war.”
“No one is,” Satine said, “For their part.” Another smile, if faint, crossed her lips. “And you should get some sleep.”
Even now, sleeping soundly beside her, beside Satine, Obi-Wan felt an almost absurd sense of peace cross him. At least for now.
***
It was later that Obi-Wan was woken from sleep by the ringing of his comlink. Getting up quickly, Obi-Wan stumbled to pick up his comlink. “Yes, Master Windu?”
“Knight Skywalker has just engaged General Grievous. Go to the Chancellor, gauge his reactions. There’s no time to waste.”
“I understand, Master Windu.”
Even now, saying a reluctant goodbye (for now) to Satine, Obi-Wan was thankful that he didn’t have to change too quickly. If anything, he had all but fallen asleep in his Jedi robes, much to his embarrassment. He smoothed them quickly before getting on the shuttle to Palpatine’s office, before telling the Chancellor about what he had heard.
He had half-expected the Chancellor to express some measure of concern for Palpatine’s well-being, but even so, the Chancellor didn’t seem to express much. If anything, Palpatine had expressed some momentary concern for Anakin’s safety, before continuing to engage him in what some would call small talk -- talk about the Republic, about his discontent with it, about...Satine?
“How did you know?”
“I have my ways. I was wondering, Obi-Wan,” Palpatine said, in such a casual tone, almost as if he was discussing the weather, “if perhaps -- perhaps you would find alternative ways to reform the Republic. Ways much like those my...apprentice suggested.”
“Apprentice?”
“Yes.” Even now, the Chancellor’s smile seemed to take on an edge far more sinister, even evil. “Think of it, Obi-Wan. Simply think of it.”
The Force was practically shrieking warnings.
“No.” Even now, Obi-Wan felt, almost, as if he was falling steadily through space. As if the galaxy as he knew it was dying all around him. “You -- a Sith Lord -- but why?”
“The Republic was corrupt. It needed to change.” A beat. “Aren’t you tired of the Republic’s corruption -- the squabbling, greedy Senators who seem to have no regard for the people, only their own desires? Think, Obi-Wan. Come back when you have a solid answer. I will be waiting.”
That did it.
Obi-Wan didn’t wait for Palpatine -- no, Sidious’ -- next response. He ran. And ran forever. Until, finally, he found his way back to Mace Windu. The Jedi Master was already looking over a hologram of Anakin -- there was a moment of relief in Obi-Wan to know that his former Padawan was all right, and yet at the same time --
“Master Windu,” Anakin said, “I just managed to destroy General Grievous. I’m heading back to Coruscant as soon as I can.” A wry smile. “Although I think Cody has some damage control to do regarding the droids, but I will be back soon.”
“Good. May the Force be with you, young Skywalker.”
A bit of a hint of shock on Anakin’s face, almost as if the younger Jedi couldn’t believe that Master Windu, of all people, was paying him a compliment -- of sorts. Then, “And with you, Master Windu. Skywalker out.”
Mace then turned to look at Obi-Wan. “What is it?”
“It’s Chancellor Palpatine. I did the investigations -- Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord.”
“A Sith Lord? The Sith Lord?”
“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, softly, “The very one that we’ve been looking for.”
For a moment, he could have sworn that he saw a flash of vulnerability in Mace Windu’s eyes. And then, “Then we have no time to waste.”
And even now, Obi-Wan Kenobi could not disagree.